Biomimicry is the process of designing materials or systems that are nature-inspired, such as designing real-world tools that mimic animal characteristics or traits. First graders solved real-world problems by applying animal traits/characteristics to their inventions. For example:

• Inventing a piggy bank surrounded by quills (inspired by porcupines) to keep your money safe.
• Designing fabric that mimics chameleon camouflage that you could hide under or throw over your items to hide them from people passing by.
• Designing a hat with a super-sonic hearing inspired by a big-eared bat.
• Engineering a "Washing Machine Grabber" designed to reach the laundry at the bottom of your washing machine using a long "neck", just like a giraffe uses his long neck to grab leaves off of tall trees.

Students used the engineering design process to

1. Define a problem

2. Identify the constraints

3. Brainstorm possible solutions

4. Select the best solution

5. Design a prototype

6. Test the prototype

7. Iterate to improve the prototype

8. Communicate or share the design with an audience

We are kicking off Spirit week with some fun dress-up days:

5/16 Monday

SPACE DAY Dress up as your favorite Astronaut or Solar Explorer, or wear space-themed shirts (No Costumes/Masks/Face Paint)

5/17 Tuesday

HAT DAY Show off your favorite HAT!

5/18 Wednesday

SPORTS DAY Wear your favorite sporty attire!

On Wednesday, our students will have the opportunity to participate in our FUN RUN during their grade level lunch! Parents are welcomed to come cheer on their runner as we celebrate healthy, fit and fun choices by running the track. BMSA's PTO will be providing students with a prize for participating.

Lunch timeframes are below if you would like to come cheer them on:

11:30am - Grades 3 and Tuition Kindergarten

12:00pm - Grades 2 and 4

12:30pm - Grades 1, 5

(Mrs. Journeaux's AM students: 12:00-12:15am)

(Mrs. Journeaux's PM students: 1:05pm-1:20pm)

5/19 Thursday

BMSA DAY Wear BMSA spirit wear or school colors (Navy, Silver and White)

Blast off with us this evening for BMSA's Engineering Night from 5:30pm-7:00pm as we discover ROCKETS!

5/20 Friday

ANIMAL DAY We celebrate the animal kingdom by dressing as your favorite animal.

(This will get us excited for the Zoo field trip on MONDAY 5/23!)

Thank you for supporting BMSA!

Parents are welcomed to come cheer their child on as they run the track! Below are the timeframes for each grade level:

11:30am - Grades 3 and Tuition Kindergarten

12:00pm - Grades 2 and 4

12:30pm - Grades 1, 5

(Mrs. Journeaux's AM students: 12:00-12:15am)

(Mrs. Journeaux's PM students: 1:05pm-1:20pm)

Thank you to our PTO for sponsoring this event and providing a small prize for participation.

BMSA classrooms, blacktops and fields

Thursday, May 19 from 5:30pm-7:00pm

We look forward to seeing you next week!

• We will be eating in Julia Davis Park after our zoo visit. Sack lunches are encouraged and a school lunch will be provided to those students not bringing a lunch from home.
• Please have your child dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes.
• BMSA and our PTO is paying for student entries so it is FREE to students. However, if you would like to donate to help offset the cost of entry, PTO is collecting donations as noted above.

We are in need of one parent volunteer for every five (1:5) students and slots are filing up fast. If you are interested in volunteering, please email your classroom teacher directly. Thank you!

Students will have the opportunity to participate in fun and games, centered around synergy, sportsmanship and H2O!

This years event will be held in two different sessions:

9:30-11:30am Grades 3-5 and AM Kindergarten

1:15-3:15pm Grades 1-2, Tuition Kinder and PM Kindergarten

2 Volunteers per class are needed during the grade timeslot to help run stations. Volunteers are asked to arrive 20 minutes before the start times listed above. If interested in volunteering, please sign-up today by clicking the link below:

Field Day: June 1 2022 (signupgenius.com)

For questions, please contact Mr. Walberg: walberg.brett@westada.org

"Teaching Our Children Social-Emotional Skills" is a self-paced recorded parent-education class with 8 lessons based on The Zones of Regulation and The 12 Tools of Toolbox.

Counselors within West Ada School District Karla Holmes, Quyann Kerby, and Laura Minogue present lessons and resources on how parents can teach their children valuable social-emotional skills including:

• Self-Awareness
• Emotional Regulation
• Empathy
• Listening
• Communication
• Problem-Solving

These lessons are geared toward K-6 graders, but parents can learn how to model these skills for students of any age.

School Counseling Services / Parent Education (westada.org)

Caldwell

Boise

Online - Noon

Online - Evening

5 for 5 - Online

5 for 5 - Boise